Running for a Reason | Veterans, community & the quiet work that changes lives

Murray Bruce has been one of the quiet engines of Running for Resilience since the early days. He's the one who brokered the University of Canberra research connection, coined the motto "better, not bigger," helped set up Strolling for Resilience and the Santa Run with Rise Above.He's a Navy veteran, a mental health advocate, and the driving force behind Bravery Trek, an initiative providing financial assistance, counselling, and education to veterans and their families facing hardship. Oh, and he's about to walk 1,000km from Fremantle to Albany.Timestamps:[00:00] — Welcome & intro — live from Parliament House [00:24] — Murray's role in R4R: the UC research connection and behind-the-scenes work [01:19] — "Better, not bigger" — the motto that's guided almost every R4R decision since [02:14] — Lobbing grenades and buggering off: the volunteer model that works [03:24] — Strolling for Resilience, the Centre Run & the grant that almost didn't happen [05:18] — Ben's dad: a Navy veteran who served in Iraq, and the mental health toll on veterans [06:17] — Veterans as "gifted kids with learning difficulties" [07:31] — Reducing friction so veterans can find support — the parallel with R4R [08:21] — What Bravery Trek actually does: financial assistance, counseling and education [09:22] — Life on a submarine — a can of Coke and a Mars bar — and the transition to civilian life [10:31] — The financial challenges veterans and their families face coming home [11:30] — From handouts to financial counseling: how Bravery Trust evolved [12:19] — It's not just getting someone to a professional — it's the ongoing journey that matters [13:13] — Losing a friend with no warning signs — and what that teaches us about being proactive [14:17] — How do you be proactive when there are no visible signs? [15:10] — Being open about your own journey — speaking at the footy club [16:31] — Mental health first aid and learning by listening [18:03] — The diversity of the safety net: different people reaching different people [19:39] — Holding space: a nod to Paulina's episode [20:23] — Murray's mum's passing — "thin places" and being given permission to be fully present [22:07] — We're often too harsh on ourselves — cutting yourself some slack [22:28] — Bear Grylls: "take a knee, light a fire, breathe, go again" [23:11] — Upcoming collaboration with UC and the Hyatt: "the best Christmas gift for your mental health" [25:35] — Bravery Trek origin: the Marine Corps Marathon Blue Mile in Washington DC [28:27] — Sydney, the Polys joining in, and Dusk to Dawn at the War Memorial [29:23] — A petty officer's story: Bravery Trust as a psychological safety net during cancer treatment [30:38] — Working with the Deputy Chief of Navy on financial literacy for sailors [33:07] — "We don't want to return that sailor broken" — Admiral Buckley on the Navy's duty of care [34:01] — What keeps Murray doing it: the generosity of spirit in communities like R4R [36:37] — What's coming up with Bravery Trek — how to get involved [37:03] — Polish Run: 10th September from the Jedi to Parliament House and back [37:25] — Dusk to Dawn: 16th–17th October overnight at the War Memorial (teams of 4) [37:48] — Virtual Trek: 1st–31st October — sign up and fundraise [39:08] — Admiral Buckley launching the trek, and partner Judy joining for the final stretchLinks:Bravery Trek: https://www.braverytrek.com.auIf this episode brings anything up for you, please reach out to someone you trust.In Australia, you can:Call Lifeline on 13 11 14Medicare Mental Health Centre Canberra – 1800 595 212Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 | https://www.beyondblue.org.auConnect with Running for ResilienceWebsite: https://www.runningforresilience.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/runningforresilience/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RunningforResilience/Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/runningforresilience